Contracts Counsel

WHO WE ARE:

Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we’re inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.

As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members’ lives every day.

The Contracts Counsel is responsible for providing legal counsel and related services primarily regarding procurement and contract-related matters. The incumbent will review, draft and negotiate contracts on behalf of TRS; ensure that contracts are legally sound, protect the organization's interests, and comply with applicable laws and regulations; and provide legal advice and guidance on contract-related matters, resolve disputes, and assist in the development and implementation of contract management processes and policies. This position will proactively work with the Procurement and Contracts team, the TRS legal team, Executive staff, members of TRS executive and leadership teams, external stakeholders and agency staff.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Procurement & Contracting

•Provides legal services concerning procurement and contracting laws, rules, policies, and procedures.

•Drafts, reviews, and edits agreements, terms and conditions, forms, and other procurement and contracting documents.

•Negotiates contracts.

•Leverages a strong foundational knowledge of the full lifecycle of the contracts processes and associated compliance obligations to provide sound legal and business advice and negotiate best outcomes for TRS.

•Advises the Investment Management Division on procurement and contracting issues, including procurement requirements, contracting and negotiations, contract monitoring activities, contract risks, contractor performance issues, and vendor protests.

•Reviews procurement and contract documents for release in compliance with attorney general open records rulings or related court orders.

•Drafts procurement and contracting policies and procedures.

•Researches contract and procurement-related legal issues.

•Reviews bills and drafts bill analyses and other related informational documents during the legislative session on contracting and procurement-related legislation.

•Assists in developing training materials and providing training to agency management and staff regarding state contracting and procurement law.

•Advises on contractual remedies, vendor protests, and contract litigation, as needed.

Public Information and General Administrative Law

•Reviews and provides advice and counsel related to contract-related public information requests.

•Researches issues and reviews briefing, as requested, for procurement and contract-related public information requests.

•Reviews documents for responsiveness and coordinates the preparation of documents for production.

•Assists in the rulemaking process for contract-related rules.

General Legal Counsel and Support

•Provides general advice and assistance on other matters assigned to the Legal & Compliance Division.

•Conducts legal research with respect to assigned or referred matters.

•Prepares letters, memoranda, bills, or analysis for legislative consideration, policies, guidelines, procedures, contracts, and other materials.

•With outside counsel, represents the agency as assigned in litigation matters; researches and analyzes legal issues and prepares legal memoranda, pleadings, briefs, notices, motions, and orders; and gathers and reviews evidence, prepares discovery responses and affidavits, and otherwise assists in the defense or prosecution of litigation.

•Develops training materials and provides training to agency management and staff regarding public information laws and other areas of responsibility as assigned.

•Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education

•Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Required Experience

•Four (4) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney in procurement and contracting or related experience.

Required Registration, Certification, or Licensure

•Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas; or hold a valid, active law license issued by another state and be eligible for Texas licensure under Board of Law Examiners Rule XIII: Attorneys From Other Jurisdictions (candidate must obtain Texas license within eight months of hire date).

Preferred Qualifications

•Seven (7) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney in procurement and contracting or related experience.

•State agency procurement and contracting experience, experience advising governmental entities in the areas of contracting, solicitations, and procurement, or corporate law experience with a focus on commercial contracting.

•Experience advising on financial or investment services contracts, technology procurements and license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, consultant contracts, master services agreements, and statements of work.

Knowledge of:

•Legal principles, practice, issues, and concepts in areas of law relevant to job functions.

•Thorough understanding of contract law and principles.

•Familiarity with state procurement law.

•Negotiation principles.

Skills in:

•Identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions; in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems; and in reconciling differences.

•Drafting and negotiating contracts.

•Performing legal research and analysis of relevant information and in rendering advice based on sound legal judgment.

•Analyzing problems and devising effective solutions.

•Negotiating, mediating, and resolving conflicts.

•Using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and other business software, including using software for electronic research and producing briefs, correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.

•Task management and organization, including prioritizing work assignments to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced and changing environment, meeting deadlines, and completing detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.

•Effective written and verbal communications in developing and advocating legal positions, giving advice, and preparing and presenting complex legal documents or reports.

Ability to:

•Collaborate on assigned projects with legal staff, agency management, and business departments.

•Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and manage the workload and simultaneous tasks, and meet very tight deadlines in a changing, fast-paced environment.

•Work extended and/or irregular hours and travel as needed due to internal and external obligations.

•Think critically, analyze complex legal questions, conduct legal research, and present findings and recommendations.

•Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.

•Work effectively in a professional team environment.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:

Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at with questions or for additional information.

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